Donovan Mitchell scores 30, Cavaliers open playoffs with tough-minded 97-83 win in Game 1 over Magic

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers spent the week insisting they were better prepared for this year's playoffs.

On Saturday, they looked it.

Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen had 18 rebounds and the Cavs looked tougher — mentally and physically — than in last year's first-round flop, beating the Orlando Magic 97-83 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

“Last year is over with,” Mitchell said. “We flushed that. This is who we are, and this is who we expect to be.”

Evan Mobley added 16 points and Darius Garland had 14 for Cleveland, which got bullied and bounced in just five games by the New York Knicks in the 2023 postseason.

That experience scarred the Cavs, who entered these playoffs more confident, deeper (at least on paper) and relatively healthy after a regular season filled with injuries.

Mitchell has been slowed for two months with a left knee bone bruise, but the All-Star guard moved well and looked much more like himself as Cleveland's only viable offensive threat for more than two quarters.

In the first half, Mitchell scooped up a loose ball and went in for a soaring dunk that served notice that he was back, and that the Cavs would be much better in his second postseason with Cleveland.

“This is who I am,” he said. “That’s kind of been my message all year. This is why I'm here. I could have had 10 points as long as we got the job done."

Orlando's Paolo Banchero scored 24 points in his playoff debut, but had nine turnovers. The Magic shot just 33% from the field — some of it attributed to bad shooting, some because of Cleveland's defense.

“We didn’t score enough,” Banchero said. "Just shots weren’t falling, but I thought we got good looks. We missed a lot of free throws (19 of 30) and didn’t make 3s (8 of 37). There were a lot of things we could have done a lot better.”

Game 2 is Monday at raucous Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where fans didn't have much to cheer last spring as the Knicks ended the Cavaliers' run shortly after it began.

Mitchell slept only two hours Friday night as his nerves — and the 1 p.m. tip — messed with his pregame routine. But once he got to the arena and heard Phil Collins' anthemic “In The Air Tonight” blaring, he quickly got into playoff mode.

“He's ready for the moment and it’s the Game 1s,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickestaff said. “It’s the bigger games during the regular season. He has the ability and the understanding of how important the start is, whatever that may be.”

Like the Cavs a year ago, the Magic lack playoff experience and it showed.

Orlando's offense was unorganized and Banchero too often tried to force things. He went 9 of 17 from the floor in 41 minutes.

The Cavs have waited all season for a chance at redemption following last season's first-round flameout.

And while they were in control for most of the game, they had just seven field goals over an 18-minute stretch and only led 60-56 when Banchero converted a three-point play with 4:24 left in the third.

Mitchell settled things down with back-to-back buckets and Cleveland closed the third with a 13-2 run that sent the Cavs into the fourth leading by 15.

The Magic twice cut a 20-point deficit to nine in the fourth, but the Cavs responded and Mitchell's 3-pointer with 4:44 left ended any thought of an Orlando comeback.

Tempers flared between the teams in the second quarter, leading to some jawing, finger-pointing and two technical fouls being called.

Orlando's Moritz Wagner pushed an off-balance Mobley as he was falling out of bounds on the baseline and his clapping annoyed Cleveland's Isaac Okoro, who shoved Wagner and drew a technical.

Moments later, Magic guard Markelle Fultz was assessed a flagrant-1 for his foul on Georges Niang, who was driving to the basket. Niang didn't like it, walked toward Fultz and was slapped with a T for taunting as Cleveland's crowd roared.

As if the Cavs needed any reminders, Tom Petty's “I Won't Back Down” played over the arena's sound system as Fultz's foul was reviewed.

“It’s the playoffs, right?” said Niang, signed by the Cavs to improve their toughness. "You expect everything to just be amplified to a whole new level. So whatever they were planning on doing, I was expecting it to be as physical as it was, if not more physical.

“That’s just the playoffs. It’s a battle. You may have friends out there, but we’re not friends.”

UP NEXT

After Monday's matchup, the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3 on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Orlando Magic's Jalen Suggs (4) shoots ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers' Max Strus (1) during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Max Strus (1) and Donovan Mitchell (45) fight for a loose ball with Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner (22) during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates making a 3-point basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) and Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrate a 3-point basket made by Mitchell during the second half against the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates an offensive foul against the Orlando Magic during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley yells to players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Max Strus, left, steals the ball from Orlando Magic's Gary Harris during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley (4) during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) and Caris LeVert (3) steal the ball from Orlando Magic's Joe Ingles during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley shoots a 3-point basket during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero (5) fights for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen drives against Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell celebrates making a 3-point basket during the first half against the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell dunks during the first half against the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

PHOENIX (AP) — Joc Pederson hit a solo homer, Zac Gallen navigated six solid innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Friday night.

The D-backs have won three straight games and nine of 12.

Down 3-1 heading into the sixth, Arizona responded with three runs off Luis Ortiz and Carmen Mlodzinski.

Pederson started the inning with a homer that traveled 453 feet, deep into the seats in right. Gabriel Moreno singled home Christian Walker to tie it, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored on a wild pitch from Mlodzinski (2-4).

Pederson homered for the second straight game. The 32-year-old hit his 200th career homer in an 8-6 victory in Kansas City on Wednesday, which was another come-from-behind win.

“We're gritty," Pederson said. "That's what it takes to be a good team. Sometimes you get knocked down and you've got to get up, fight back and finish the game strong. Our team's doing a great job.”

The D-backs improved to 54-50, which is the first time they've been four games over .500 this season.

Gallen (8-5) pitched into the seventh, but was pulled after walking the first two batters of the inning. Kevin Ginkel wiggled out of the jam, striking out Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz before Nick Gonzales grounded out.

Ryan Thompson threw a scoreless eighth and Paul Sewald worked the ninth for his 16th save. Gurriel finished with three hits — all singles.

“Just a hard-fought win against a good baseball team,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Those are the types of things we've been doing a lot lately. We hang in there, duke it out, find a little crack and then string together some good at-bats.”

Gallen gave up three runs on five hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out six.

“I know I've got to keep us in the game,” Gallen said. “We've been pretty great offensively. Just got to give our guys a chance to get us back in it.”

The Pirates scored two runs in the first after Joshua Palacios hit a bases-loaded single that scored McCutchen and Gonzales. Pittsburgh pushed the advantage to 3-0 in the second on McCutchen's RBI double into the right-center gap.

Ortiz gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out four. The Pirates were just 1 of 11 at the plate with runners in scoring position.

“We had strong at-bats but we didn't finish,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We had first and second in the seventh, then second and third in the eighth and did not have productive at-bats.”

The D-backs cut it to 3-1 in the third when Corbin Carroll led off the inning with a triple. He was brought home on All-Star Ketel Marte's sacrifice fly.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates 1B Rowdy Tellez (back spasms) left mid-game and was replaced by Connor Joe. The team said Tellez is day to day. Tellez was also hit by a pitch on the finger earlier in the game, but Shelton said that wasn't a problem.

UP NEXT

The D-backs start RHP Brandon Pfaadt (4-6, 3.74 ERA) on Saturday. The Pirates counter with LHP Marco Gonzalez (1-1, 2.70 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr., right, scores on a wild pitch in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reacts after hitting a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez reacts after getting hit with a pitch in the first inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, center left, scores on a single hit by Ketel Marte in the third inning during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Suwinski (65) talks to umpire Ben May, left, after striking out in the seventh inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson celebrates with third base coach Tony Perezchica (21) after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)